St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1887-05-21

exertions to get away from the terrible
sights and sounds SO close behind them.
Only one elephant broke back; she
careered through the men. who escaped
in the most marvellous manner; in
her terror she went through the fire.
lines. most unusual proceeding for an
elephant. She unfortunately killed q
man on the surround some two miles
from the stOckade. after which no more
was seen of her.
When saw the elephants strugglin:
before the gate never believed that SO
many Q36 rs it turned out) could by
any possibility get into stockade 2l5
feet in circumference. The area was
then less than that of circle Of SINH
lar circumference. as our StOcka,les
have thirteen straight sides of fifteen
feet each. and the gate side Of twenty
feet. We never expected our stockades
would hold over one hundred elephants:
sixty-five was the greatest number we
had ever impounded before. though I
must say they had plenty Of room when
the resistance was overcome and the
final struggle to get into the stockade
began. The thing seemed impossible
after seeing the elephants half covering
hillside or trooping along in single
file. One wave to the man who stood
over the gate rope with his axe. and the
ponderOus gate came down on the backs
Of the last few elephants. and as they
struggled from under it. and it fell into
position. it was quickly lashed by many
willing hands.
Immediately everybody went to work
to strengthen the stockade. 1t WAS
never really in danger. but We made
assurance doubly sure. A supple
mental stockade was at once commenced
by baricading off twenty yards Of the
space between the guiding palisades
outside the gate. The elephants were
pounded at olse =. M, but il was not until
$50 p. m. that all was ready. We then
hauled up to the gate and relieved them
from the Black Hole-like confinement
If the stockade by admitting them into
the new one. 1t was filled ut once. but
really the crowd i'm the frs, s.Ockad.
hardly seemed decreased. Early next
morning we shut off some thiriy-iivc ele-
phants in the supplemental stockadc by
closing the gate. and the tame elephants
were then admitted. and by evening
had secured this lot aud removed and
tied them up in the forest near. At
night the gate between the stocka,ics
was again raised to give the remainder
room. and wild plantain trees and
other succuleut cOOling fodder were
supplied to them. BY next morning we
had followed out two tree trunks iwcn-
ty feet long. and pushed their ends
through the timbers Of the Stockale.
and by keeping men with buckets carry
ing water from the GanOl stream. which
flowed within few yards IF the stock
asle. we supplied the thirsty animals
with plenty Of cold. clear mountain
water. for which they seemed heartily
thankful, and which in addition TO drink
ing they showcred over their bodies.
For the seventy-nine elephants the men
earned 245 rupees rs Il present among
about seventy of them. On the third
day, the l7th, the last If the elephants
was removed. and the whole number
tied in large clearing in the forest
near. Here they are now before me as
l write. and in camp with them are
numerous tame elephants. The cle-
phants being looscned and taken to
water. struggling at their picket. or
standing in diynitied silence with thick
cables round their necks and legs.
anchoring them fore and aft between
trees. form scene which ought to be
painted. In few days they will he
marched down to the low country in
squads by easy stages. | need hardly
say that such a capture as l36 elephants
was never made before. and we ascribe
our luck to the presence Of lady at
the drive, and to this being the jubilee
year. l intended to roll a large bowldcr
into the stockade by the help of our
tame elephants. and to have an inscrip-
ton cut on it, recording the event Of
this unprecedented capture in the
fiftieth year of her Majesty's reign
Pail Mall Gazette.